Chhabildas Mehta (English: Chhabildas Mehta, born 4 November 1925; died 29 November 2008) was an Indian National Congress politician and the ninth Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 17 February 1994 to 14 March 1995. In 1974, Chimanbhai Patel had to resign due to the Nav Nirman movement. After this he separated from Congress and formed a new party named ‘Kisan Mazdoor Lokpaksh’.
In Bhavnagar district, where the land meets the sea, there is a town, Mahuva. Chhabildas Mehta was born in this town on November 4, 1925. At the time of Quit India Movement of 1942, he was only 17 years old. He left high school and jumped into this movement. Came out of jail and started studies again.
The first elections were going to be held in 1952, five years after the country gained independence. Jaiprakash Narayan and J. B. Kripalani rebelled against Jawaharlal Nehru and formed a new party ‘Praja Socialist Party’. Chhabildas had come under the influence of socialists during the independence movement itself. He associated himself with this new party. In 1956, there was a demand for the establishment of a new state with Gujarati language separate from Bombay Presidency. It was named ‘Maha Gujarat Movement’. Chhabildas Mehta became a part of this movement. In 1960, the new Gujarat state was formed separately from Bombay Presidency. The first assembly was announced in 1962. Chhabildas left the Socialist Party and again came under the patronage of Congress and became MLA from Mahuva. The first opportunity to become a minister came in 1973. Chimanbhai Patel gave him a place in the cabinet during his first term and P.W.D. Assigned to the ministry.
In 1974, Chimanbhai Patel had to resign due to the Nav Nirman movement. After this he separated from Congress and formed a new party named ‘Kisan Mazdoor Lokpaksha’. Chhabildas Mehta remained in Congress. His ticket was canceled in the 1980 assembly elections. After this he left Congress and joined Janata Party. Chimanbhai was already present there. He contested the 1985 assembly elections on Janata Party ticket. In a close contest, he lost the election to Vajubhai Jani of Congress by 1187 votes. In the 1990 assembly elections, he again filed nomination from Mahuva seat on Janata Dal ticket and succeeded in taking revenge of the previous defeat. In this election he secured 40445 votes as against Vijubhai’s 10570 votes. Worked closely with Chimanbhai. Was made Finance Minister in the new cabinet. Returned to Congress again with the merger of Janata Dal (Gujarat) with Congress.
Congress lost in the 1995 assembly elections and Chhabildas Mehta started being sidelined in the organization. After losing the 1998 assembly elections, he became almost irrelevant. Left Congress in 2001 and joined Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. Contested the 2002 elections and lost again. After this he distanced himself from politics. He breathed his last on 29 November 2008 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
